The Chibouk

The Chibouk from 1826 depicts an Oriental smoking pipe, reflecting the fascination with Eastern subjects that Bonington shared with his friend Delacroix. The Orientalist theme was fueled by the Greek War of Independence and growing European engagement with the Ottoman world. Bonington's technique in watercolor and oil was notably fresh and spontaneous, capturing light and atmosphere with a directness that anticipated the Impressionists; Delacroix called him 'the master of lightness and accuracy.

Rich, warm coloring and meticulous attention to exotic objects demonstrate Bonington's ability to bring his luminous technique to bear on Orientalist still life and genre subjects.